Top End braces for severe heatwave

Australia's Top End will swelter through a severe heatwave in coming days with near-record temperatures in Darwin and Katherine sparking fears for the homeless.

Forecasters say a low-intensity heatwave spelling temperatures 4-5 degrees hotter than average could worsen to the severe category by Monday, particularly for the region's inland areas.

Heatwave conditions are also expected for parts of Queensland's western Cape York and Western Australia's Kimberley.

"We expect maximum temperatures across inland parts of the Top End to get up to the high 30s, possibly even getting up to 40 degrees," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Mark Kersemakers said.

"That's quite high for April.

"We wouldn't be surprised if some of those inland locations recorded their warmest-ever April day during the week."

An El Nino which has brought low rainfall and warmer-than-normal temperatures to the Northern Territory throughout the wet season is lingering, Mr Kersemakers said, with continuing drier conditions not helping to cool things down.

"It'll still be reasonably humid, but certainly dry in terms of rainfall amounts," he said.

The outlook has also raised concerns for the region's vulnerable itinerant population who are unable to find shelter, with many suffering health problems.

"It's extremely unpleasant for people who are homeless," NT Shelter's Tammy White said.

"It wouldn't be conducive to good health in this kind of weather and if you're sick or unwell or disabled, it would be terrible."